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erok81
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I have come to the semester where I have to make a choice. My school has two physics programs; an applied program and what's called a pre-professional program. The latter is designed for people who want to pursue a PhD. I've made up mind on the graduate school part, but I am waffling on which program to choose. The pre-professional program has more upper level/graduate courses so it saves time once you get to graduate school. Plus the pre-professional program has more interesting courses. I'd assume that only applies to if I stick with my same school...but anyway that's a different subject.
In order to make it into graduate school one needs to take the physics GRE. This is where my question comes in.
Here are the two programs laid out from the physics department.
Applied Program
2210 Phys for Sci & Eng I
2220 Phys for Sci & Eng II
2215 Phys for S & E Lab I
2225 Phys for S & E Lab II
3730 Intro to Comp Phys
3740 Intro to Quant & Rel.
3760 Thermo & Stat Mech
3719 Undergrad Lab
3410 Modern Optics
3610 Electronics I
5010 Theoretical Mechanics
5020 Theoretical E & M
5110 Particle & Nuclear Phys
3620 Electronics II
Pre-Professional Program
2210 Phys for Scientists I
2220 Phys for Scientists II
2215 Phys for S & E Lab I
2225 Phys for S & E Lab II
3730 Intro to Comp Phys
3740 Intro to Quant & Rel.
5110 Particle & Nuclear Phys
3760 Thermo & Stat Mech
3719 Undergrad Lab
4410 Classical Physics I
4420 Classical Physics II
5450 Intro to Quant Mech
5460 Intro to Stat Mech
My two questions. For those that are familiar with these "shortcuts to graduate school" type programs...are they worth it or should I just stick to the applied program? I'd probably be better prepared...
The second question. Say I stick with the pre-professional program. Since I will be missing out on the optics course and a couple others, will that leave me under-prepared to take the GRE? Or is it something I'd just have to study on my own to prepare?
In order to make it into graduate school one needs to take the physics GRE. This is where my question comes in.
Here are the two programs laid out from the physics department.
Applied Program
2210 Phys for Sci & Eng I
2220 Phys for Sci & Eng II
2215 Phys for S & E Lab I
2225 Phys for S & E Lab II
3730 Intro to Comp Phys
3740 Intro to Quant & Rel.
3760 Thermo & Stat Mech
3719 Undergrad Lab
3410 Modern Optics
3610 Electronics I
5010 Theoretical Mechanics
5020 Theoretical E & M
5110 Particle & Nuclear Phys
3620 Electronics II
Pre-Professional Program
2210 Phys for Scientists I
2220 Phys for Scientists II
2215 Phys for S & E Lab I
2225 Phys for S & E Lab II
3730 Intro to Comp Phys
3740 Intro to Quant & Rel.
5110 Particle & Nuclear Phys
3760 Thermo & Stat Mech
3719 Undergrad Lab
4410 Classical Physics I
4420 Classical Physics II
5450 Intro to Quant Mech
5460 Intro to Stat Mech
My two questions. For those that are familiar with these "shortcuts to graduate school" type programs...are they worth it or should I just stick to the applied program? I'd probably be better prepared...
The second question. Say I stick with the pre-professional program. Since I will be missing out on the optics course and a couple others, will that leave me under-prepared to take the GRE? Or is it something I'd just have to study on my own to prepare?